Kelly announces €4 million transport investment for Galway

Issued : Tuesday 6 March, 2012

Minister for Public & Commuter Transport, Alan Kelly has today announced over €4 million in funding for transport projects for Galway city. The funding has been allocated through the National Transport Authority under the Regional Cities Accessibility Programme.

The investment will allow a range of projects to go ahead, designed to improve traffic flows and remove pinch points, provide better access for buses and taxis, and provide new or better routes for cyclists and pedestrians. "Public Transport in our regional cities is in need of improvement," stated Minister Kelly.

"Just 4% of work trips in Galway city are made using public transport so people need to be given other options. It is also a major tourism hub for the country so improving traffic management and facilitating cycling and walking should improve the experience of the city for both residents and visitors alike. We are treating Galway as a key priority in the national transport plans for the future."

The programme will see a revamp of Ceannt bus station in Galway city with widened footpaths and better designed bus bays to greatly enhance the experience for transport users.

Among the other key measures will be improved transport connections to the west of the city with a major programme of bus lanes, junction alteration and bus-stop upgrades Bishop O'Donnell/Seamus Quirke Road costing over €1million. Funding will also be allocated towards the cities' traffic management centre and continued construction of the Fisheries Field Greenway linking NUI Galway with the cathedral and the college's offsite playing fields costing €250,000.

The funding will also €200,000 spent on new signage and information boards at high pedestrian flow areas like Salthill Prom and Canal walks while a study will also be commissioned to look at better ways of utilising the Salmon Weir bridge which will include one-way traffic flow or signal controlled shuttle traffic running on the famous bridge.

"Up to now, much of the transport investment has been based on yearly spend. However this time we are looking to build this programme on a multi-annual basis to make our spending more effective."